Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti has faulted the renewed comparisons between contemporary Nigerian music stars and his late father, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, describing the debate as unnecessary and unhelpful.
Speaking in an interview on Arise Television, shared on X on Saturday, Femi said he deliberately stayed away from the discussion, stressing that Nigeria is grappling with far more pressing national issues.
“I’m sure you’ve noticed I haven’t said anything. Fela is our father. I believe all the younger artistes respect him. This issue shouldn’t have been raised because he is the template for so many things musically and artistically in Nigeria,” he said.
Femi maintained that Fela should not be compared or placed in competition with present-day artistes, noting that his father laid the foundation for Nigeria’s modern music industry.
“Fela should be in a category of his own. We should idolise and respect him. He’s our father. I don’t want to go into the Seun and Wizkid matter. Seun is my brother, Wizkid is like a son. I just wish it never came up. Hopefully, everyone will calm down,” he added.
While acknowledging the international success of contemporary Afrobeat artistes, Femi urged Nigerians to focus on unity and national development rather than rivalry-driven debates.
“Nigeria has been participating in the Grammys a lot recently. It’s good for Africa and good for the country that we’re getting the recognition we deserve. We should be happy and use this to build the music industry, the nation and the country by coming together,” he said.
He also lamented that issues such as tribalism, terrorism and corruption continue to plague Nigeria, calling on citizens—especially young people—to prioritise governance and nation-building.
“Tribalism and terrorism are major issues today. These are the things we should be focusing on. How will Nigeria be safe? How do we move forward? In the 1970s, general hospitals gave drugs for free. Things were progressing, and Fela was complaining then, though many of us didn’t understand him. Now we can see that corruption was already destroying Nigeria,” he said.
Femi warned that dwelling on trivial public debates could further deepen the country’s problems, noting that many of the issues Fela addressed in his music decades ago remain unresolved.
“If young people don’t take the baton and demand good governance, we’ll be in serious trouble. Fela spoke, and he’s been gone for 29 years, yet we’re still talking about the same problems,” he said.
He revealed that political themes still dominate his music and that of his family, questioning how long artistes would continue addressing the same social challenges without tangible change.
“It’s sad that after 40 years in music, about 90 per cent of my songs are political. Seun is doing his thing, and even my son has released two political albums. How long will we keep singing about poverty, kidnapping and terrorism? When will the country truly come together to build a proper nation?” he asked.
The debate resurfaced after Afrobeat star Wizkid was quoted as saying he was bigger than Fela, a remark that sparked widespread reactions online, particularly involving Seun Kuti. The discussion gained further momentum following the nomination of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti for a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, reigniting conversations about his lasting influence on Nigerian music and younger generations of artistes.
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